Photoengraver&#39;s saber



April 6, 1965 D. H. WARNER Em. 3,176,395

PHOTOENGRAVER S SABER Filed Dec. 27, 1965 i 1D S United dtates 3,176,395 PHUTOENGRAVERS SABER David H. Warner and Ethel D. Warner, both of 25 E. Buddy St., Barberton, @hie Filed Dec. Z7, 1963, Ser. No. 333,839 2 Claims. (Cl. lll-154) This invention relates to hand tools and more particularly it pertains to a photoengravers saber having a retractable `and swingable knife blade.

Hand tools having sharp instruments which are manually movable out of a handle and automatically retractable` into the handle have been known in the prior art.

kMost of such devices have not been suitable for use by photoengravers, artists, and the like for various reasons. Suthce it to say, a tool having a retractable knife blade which is movable into various angled positions for use outside of the handle has been developed. The skill with which the blade is used frequently depends upon the angle at which it extends from the axis of the blade handle.

It has been found that a retractable knife blade may be mounted for extension at any desired angle to accommodate the requirements of a particular purpose or of various users. The device of the present invention not only provides spring means for automatic retraction of the blade upon release of a detent, but also provides adjustable means for setting the angle of inclination of the blade.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a photoengravers saber having a blade which is adjustable to various angles of inclination.

Itis another object of this invention to provide a photoengravers saber having a readily adjustable knife blade which is automatically retractable into the handle of the saber.

It is another object of this invention to provide a photoengravers `saber having a cutting blade which automatically turns to the desired angle of inclination when the blade is advanced manually out of the saber handle.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a photoengravers saber which substantially eliminates the difficulties enumerated and obtains the foregoing desiderata in an effective manner;

These and other objects and advantages, apparent to kkthose skilled in the art from the following description and claims, may be obtained, the stated results achieved, and the described difficulties overcome, by the apparatus, constructions, arrangements, combinations, subcombinations, elements, parts, and principles, which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the foregoing general statements, a preferred embodiment of whichillustrative of the best modes in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles-is set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the photoengravers saber of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including a tubular handle having at least one open end, a plunger movably mounted within the handle near said open end, the plunger being spring-biased in a retracted position and being manually movable to an advanced position with a portion extending out of the open end, said portion of the plunger having a diametric slot, a knife blade pivotally mounted Within the slot and having an outer cutting end with an inner end within the slot, a pivot pin extending perpendicularly through the slot and the knife blade, the

` pivot pin being disposed outside .of the handle when the blade is in `the advanced position, a spring within the handle, an elongated rod within the handle and having 3,176,395 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 one end mounted in the plunger and having another end extending toward the end of the handle remote from said open end, a body on the rod and spaced from the plunger, the spring being disposed on the rod and engageable at one end with the body on the rod, stop means within the handle and adjacent the retracted plunger for engagement with the other end of the spring, the handle having an elongated bayonet slot, a manually movable button extending through the slot in the handle and having an inner end within the plunger and having an outer end extending beyond said handle slot, spring means within the plunger and engageable with the end of the blade within the plunger slot for urging the blade at an angle to the axis of the handle when the blade is in the advanced position, and the spring being compressed between the body and and the stop means when the blade is in the advanced position.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the photoengravers saber;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the saber showing the blade in the retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a similar View through the handle showing the blade in the extended position;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5, FIG. 3.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings a knife or saber is generally indicated at ll. It includes an elongated tubular member or tube 2, a retractable knife blade 3, a coil spring 4, and blade advancing means or button 5 for extending the blade out of the tube. The tube 2 is provided with an end closure member 6. The other end 7 is open to permit extension and retraction of the blade 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the inner wall of the tube 2 has two portions 3 and 9 of different diameter, the former having a smaller diameter than the latter. An annular radial shoulder 10 is provided therebetween. In addition the end portion of the tube 2 having the smaller inner diameter is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 11 having a back-turned end portion or notch 12 in which the button 5 is secured during extension of the blade 3.

The knife blade 3 includes a cutting end 13 and an inner end portion 14. The blade is apertured at 15 for reception of a pivot pin 16. As shown in the drawings a plunger member 17 is slidably mounted within the inner tube portion S and has a yoke or bifurcated end portion 18 which provides a slot 19 in which the inner end portion 14 of the blade 3 is seated. The pivot pin 16 extends through the slot 19 and the blade aperture 1S with pin end portions mounted in the opposite sides of the yoke 1S.

As shown in the drawings the plunger member 17 includes a lower bore 29 and an upper threaded bore 21, both of which bores extend between the end of the slot 19 and the end of the plunger member 17 remote from said slot. A blade-turning unit is mounted in the bore Ztl and includes a compressed coil spring 22, a slidable plunger 23, and a spring-backup plug 24. The plunger Z3 extends into the slot 19 in contact with a portion Z5 of the inner end of the knife blade 3. Thus, the spring 22 exerts a constant rotating -force on the blade 3 in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 16.

An elongated rod 26 extends from the plunger member 17 throughout a greater portion of the tube 2. A threaded end portion 27 of the rod 26 is seated in the threaded bore 21 and extends into the slot 19 for contact with another portion 23 of the inner end of the blade 3. The opposite end of the rod 26 is slotted at 29 so that a screw driver Yupwardly. through the slot 1'V1and y protrudes` out-side ofthe outer surfacehof the tube whereV beybroadlyL construed.: Y Y

fair/6,395 'f Vmay Vbe used for` turning therod to adjust the angleof inclination of the blade 3.

As shown more particularly in FIG. the button 5 Y includes anvinner shaft portion 30. which is seated at 31V within the plunger member .17..V The shaft Y30 extends it is conveniently available for contact'.

As shownin the drawingsgthe coi1 spr1ngl4 is disposed between the shoulder andl ay member 32. In the ex tended position of the spring (FIG. 2) the blade 3 is retracted within the tube 1.V In Vthe compressed position of the springi(FIG`. 3), the blade 3 is extended for use'. The

member 32 is provided ,withfa threaded aperture` A33` which is attachedl to'a threaded portionv34 of the` rod the outer end button 5 HavingnowV described the invention lor discovery, the construction, the operatiom and use of preferred embodiments'the'reof, arid the advantageous new and usefulre- 5 sults obtained therebygthe'iew and useful construction,

andrreasonable mechanicalfequivalents thereof obvious to 'those skilled in the` art, are'set forth in the appended claims. j

What is claimed isz; Y v 1. 'Arphotoen'g'ravers saber.l including a tubular handle Vhaving at least oneY openeend, a plunger movablymounted Within the handle near saidr open end, a spring within the Y handle fori holdingv the plunger in a retracted position, the

plungery being manually movable'to an 'advanced position with .ahportion Iextending out ofthe openend, said 26. The member 32 is preferably round with a diameter slightly smallerY than that of the inner tube portion 9.

The right end lof the spring 4` presses againstthe memberi V32 and the left end rof thespring presses'againrst the shoulder 10 and a partition member V35 is preferably pro-` vided between the spring andl thejshoulder 10, f

As viewed in FiGs.'2 and 3 the right end portion of the,

rod 26 extends througha block 36 which by a ,pin- 37.is f

secured withinrthe innerftube portion 9. A rubber orr resilient pad 38 isprovided on the leftend of Ytheblocl:

36. Both block 36and pad 38 are provided with'aligned Y apertures 39V through which therod 2,6y extends. Simi=- larly, the end closure member 6y is'providedwith an "aperture which is alignedwith apertures 39 and. which is Van access opening for insertionv of a screwdriver intothe slot 29 at the endV of therod 26.

tubejZ4 (FIG. 2), the cutting end13- is completely seated within the open end 7 and the button 5 is disposed'at the extreme right end Yof theV slot 11.A 'At thel same tirnethe spring 22 acts throughV the plunger 23 and'pressesagainst the inner end portion 25 ofthe blade3jto .urge the edge ofthe blade against the inner tube portion 8 at 41;'l Y

. T InA operation, when ythe'y blade 3 retractedwithin the portionof the plunger having a diametric slot, a knife blade pivotally mounted 'within the kslot and having an outer cutting end with an inner end withinthe slot, the pivot ypin beingdisposed outside of the handle when the bladev is in the .advanced position, an elongated rod withinthe handle and having one end mounted in the'plunger and having Vanotherend extending toward the end ofthe handle remote .from said `open end, a` body on the rod and spacedffrorn the plunger, the spring being disposed on the rod andrengageable atrone endV with the body on the rod,.stop means within the handle and adjacent the retracted plunger for engagement with theother endof the spring, the handle having an elongated bayonet groove,

a manually movable buttonrextending through Ythe groove in thehandle and having an inner end within the plunger and having anouter end,Y extending beyond saidfgroove, spring means within the' plunger and engageable with the jend of the blade within tbevslot forrurgingthe blade at an angle to the axis ofthe handle when the ,blader is in theadvanced position, theY spring being compressed betweenv the body and the stop means when the blade is in the .advanced positiong-and'the end of the rod withinrthe i plunger: engaging the inner end of the'blade in its angled The blade is advanced tothe extended positionfFIG.

3) by pushingfthe button 5k tof the left inY the slotll' and turning the button into the notch -12 for holding the blade in said position. During'th'atmoment the coil spring 41( j is compressed by the member32 moving with the rod 26.

In the extendedY position, theV pivot 'pin 16'is disposedY just Youtside of the open Yend 7V of the tube 2Y where the blade` is free to rotate in response tothe thrust ofthe spring 22 until the endgportion 28V is brought into contactrwithy the end of the rod 27. The angle of inclination ofthe blade v3 may be adjusted vby rotating the rod 26y so rthat a greater or lesser portionof the threaded end portion 27 extends into the 'slot 19k thereby changing theV degree of rotation of the blade.

The compression of thespring 4 may be'radjustedV by. Y

Y position'.V

2. AV photoengravers Vsaber'harvingv a tubular lhandle withr an open end, a plunger lwithin vthe handle andfbeing manuallyrrnovable' from aretracted position within the v'handle to an extended position'at the open endof the handle,v a Vspring Vwithin the handle land holding the ,n plunger` is` in the Vadvanced'` position,V an 'elongated rod v'ovithin the handle and having' one end mounted in the rotation of the Yrod so Athatthefthreadedportion 34 adf Y y vances or movesthe member 23 to .the right. or leftas desired. Y j Y Y. g

In the preferred positionV ofV the member `32,the1member is in vcontact with the pad 38;; Accordingly, when the button 5 is released from the notch 12.to permitthe plate to, return fromr theV advancedposition (FIG."3)yto theV retracted position (FIG.'2Y), release ofthe` button in A l Y springbeing :engageable with said body, Ythe spring being Y compressed when the plungeris in the advanced position,

plunger and having abody mountedA on the rod and vspaced from the plunger, the spring having stopvmeans within lthe handle adjacent the plunger and the other end of the Y means'within theV plunger for lrotating the blade at an the slot 11 permits the spring 4 to rapidly pull the'bladeV Y into theY tube. At the'endzofthe motion they member 32 Y strikes thepresilient pad 3'8iand thereby ,dampens' the shock and-noise resulting from retractionvof the blade 3; In the. foregoing description certain` terrnsvharvebeen rused for brevity, clearness and understandingrbut'no un necessary limitations are to Vbe impliedl therefrom beyond j the requirements ofthe prior art, because such words are usedfor'descriptive purposeshereiny and are intended to Moreover, the embodiments.ofltheimproved construe# tion illustrated anddescribed herein are by way'of exam:

ple, and theY scope of thepresent invention is knot limited Y 4 A75 tothe exact details ofl construction. 1j p j Vangle'and including springV means operable .against the inner end of the Yblade for thrusting the blade about the pivotrpin'atran'angle tofthe axis of the handle, and the endportion ofjthelrod Withinv the plungereng-aging the Afinner'en'd of theV blade atitsrangledrposition.

-V ReferencesCitedhy thejExaminerA f UNITED STATES PATENTS MVILTOYN S; MEHR, Examiner.' l

WILLIMFEIDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PHOTOENGRAVER''S SABER INCLUDING A TUBULAR HANDLE HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPEN END, A PLUNGER MOVABLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE HANDLE NEAR SAID OPEN END, A SPRING WITHIN THE HANDLE FOR HOLDING THE PLUNGER IN A RETRACTED POSITION, THE PLUNGER BEING MANUALLY MOVABLE OUT OF THE OPEN END, SAID TION WITH A PORTION EXTENDING OUT OF THE OPEN END, SAID PORTION OF THE PLUNGER HAVING A DIAMETRIC SLOT, A KNIFE BLADE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE SLOT AND HAVING AN OUTER CUTTING END WITH AN INNER END WITHIN THE SLOT, THE PIVOT PIN BEING DISPOSED OUTSIDE OF THE HANDLE WHEN THE BLADE IS IN THE ADVANCE POSITION, AN ELONGATED ROD WITHIN THE HANDLE AND HAVING ONE END MOUNTED IN THE PLUNGER AND HAVING ANOTHER END EXTENDING TOWARD THE END OF THE HANDLE REMOTE FROM SAID OPEN END, A BODY ON THE ROD AND SPACED FROM THE PLUNGER, THE SPRING BEING DISPOSED ON THE ROD AND ENGAGEABLE AT ONE END WITH THE BODY ON THE ROD, STOP MEANS WITHIN THE HANDLE AND ADJACENT THE RETRACTED PLUNGER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER END OF THE SPRING, THE HANDLE HAVING AN ELONGATED BAYONET GROOVE, A MANUALLY MOVABLE BUTTON EXTENDING THROUGH THE GROOVE IN THE HANDLE AND HAVING AN INNER END WITHIN THE PLUNGER AND HAVING AN OUTER END EXTENDING BEYOND SAID GROOVE, SPRING MEANS WITHIN THE PLUNGER AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE END OF THE BLADE WITHIN THE SLOT FOR URGING THE BLADE AT AN ANGLE TO THE AXIS OF THE HANDLE WHEN THE BLADE IS IN THE ADVANCED POSITION, THE SPRING BEING COMPRESSED BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE STOP MEANS WHEN THE BLADE IS IN THE ADVANCED POSITION, AND THE END OF THE ROD WITHIN THE PLUNGER ENGAGING THE INNER END OF THE BLADE IN ITS ANGLED POSITION. 